ROBERTO MARTINEZ has admitted Everton’s hopes of keeping the likes of John Stones, Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley rests on the club qualifying for the Champions League rather than lifting silverware.

Everton have not won a trophy since 1995 and face Manchester City in the Capital One Cup semi-final, first leg, with the prospect of Wembley edging ever closer.

Yet Martinez believes a top four finish would be more important in safeguarding the futures of his batch of young stars and believes it should remain a target for this season even with his side in 11th position.

“I don't think winning a cup will keep the young players,” said Martinez. “I think qualifying for the Champions League could help to keep young players.

“I wouldn't say I don't want to win silverware because that is what this club is about and our aim is to have that drive and ambition to do that, but the aim is get into the top four, and that is what we have set out to achieve.

“How long that is going to take I don't know, but I don't think winning a cup will help us to keep players. What will make it easier in the modern game is to fight for the top four positions in the league.”

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Everton have won just once in their last seven Premier League games

The likes of Stones, Lukaku and Barkley have attracted a host of suitors, while Spanish youngster Gerard Deulofeu is another Martinez favourite although Barcelona have a £6m buy-back option in the summer.

Everton blocked Stones’ departure to Chelsea last summer, ripping up his transfer request and rejecting numerous bids for the England defender the last of which reached £37m.

Martinez insisted Everton will not sell because they need the money, but interestingly said that going forward “you wouldn’t want to keep a player that doesn’t want to represent our shirt.”

“We are in a position where the decisions will only now be for football decisions,” he said. “So if the decision is to lose a young player for the right reasons then we are going to benefit from it as a football club and as a squad.

“So we can't be worried about that (players leaving). I'm not worried about that.

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“There are no financial decisions that will dictate what this squad needs.

“Actions speak louder than words. We had a player that any other club would have sold but we didn’t. We could not have been more clear and resolute in our projects.

“There are right moments and wrong moments to lose a player.

“I’m saying to every single Evertonian to trust that we will make the right decision on football terms. It is not going to be on financial terms. It is not going to be about balancing the books. That would be very wrong, dangerous or negative.